Tile City and Home Centre has opened a new Signature Showroom on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew, an investment the company put at about J$290 million.

The 10,000-square-foot showroom was launched on Thursday, October 8. The total includes about J$40 million for a 240-kilowatt solar energy system, roughly 14 per cent of the spend.

The company said the space offers an immersive setting for customers planning building, renovation and design projects. It described the opening as a renewed commitment to making quality design more accessible to Jamaicans.

Delano Seiveright, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, speaking at the launch, noted that the company had been in business for 27 years and began with two containers. He said he was “very proud of Tile City and Home Centre”.

Tile City was incorporated in 1999 as a family business and is now run by the second generation, Jaleel Handal, then manager of special projects and business development. At that time, the company operated a main showroom of more than 20,000 square feet and had planned a redesign of that facility along with an upgrade of its Kohler showroom.

The company distributes tiles, plumbing fixtures and home products at retail and wholesale, and holds distribution arrangements for brands including Kohler and Porcelanosa.

Tile City did not disclose how the project was financed, how many jobs it created, or its sales expectations for the new space.

The solar installation is sized well above typical retail rooftop systems. The company has not said what share of the showroom’s electricity demand it will meet, or whether it will supply other Tile City buildings on the site.

Tile City is privately held and does not publish financial statements.